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The delegates responded to these other questions:
Elizabeth Dole's "unconventional style"
Can the platform process become more representative?
Kemp's "sea change" on immigration and affirmative action
A question from Marcie Lyman - Greensboro, NC
Too Much Media Coverage?
The media is griping about there being no "news" at the convention in San Diego and that the convention itself is one big info-mercial for the GOP ticket. Ted Koppel already went back to New York and is saying that he is not even going to cover the Democratic convention in Chicago.
Wouldn't it save everybody a lot of money and airspace if the media in the future just left the convention floor to the delegates and only covered convention news in their regular nightly broadcast? Why should the rest of America be interested in the scripted Party message?
Carl Tritschler-LA
Let's be very clear about this: the media is overwhelmingly liberal (statistics bear this out as does analysis of media coverage) and they have been and will continue to be hostile to anything that a conservative political party does. This convention is no more or less "scripted" than any others in the past, including the Democrats and their perfectly scripted leader. The liberal media is just upset that we Republicans aren't destroying ourselves in a bloodbath of acrimony and dissension. Their fetish over the issue of abortion, which is a non-issue to most voters and which has already been fought over by party activists, is an example of their death-wish for the GOP. Adios Ted Koppel, we Republicans are not going to conduct our affairs just to keep you interested.
Eric Koch-IN
Marcie, I believe that it is a healthy thing for Americans to watch even a little bit of the national conventions. For the real political "junkies," the is, of course, C-SPAN. I do believe, however, that the business of the conventions could be condensed into two days, rather than four.Arthur Bruzzone - CA
The media wastes thousands of hours on programs that have no news. For example, New Year's Day parades provide free marketing for American retailers. Bottom line, the conventions have become entertainment/news. Let the viewers decide, let the advertisers decide. No one is forcing the networks to cover the convention. They're covering the conventions because its still is a good program for the quiet month of August every four years..just after the Olympics.
Jason Brinton - UT
Here is my insight as to why the media, or part thereof, feels as it does about the convention. This convention is entirely over-media-ed. At the Republican National Convention four years ago, there were 3,500 registered members of the press. This year, there are 1,990 delegates and 15,000 members of the press! That's a ratio of more than 7:1! It's not that there is no news--the problem is that the news is covered, over-covered 15,000 times, and covered again.I, as an American, would be very interested in the live convention coverage if I weren't here. I believe that the speeches, both at the Democratic and Republican conventions, are informative, and allow the common American voter to make an informed decision when he or she goes to the polls in November.
Robert MacDonald - VA
One of the tragic observations that I have made during the course of serving on the Platform Committee and as a delegate to the convention, is the inordinate focus of the press on conflict and controversy as the source of news. For instance, the platform provided a nearly l00 page Republican vision for America, with a wonderful summary of the conservative principles that came out of the "Reagan Revolution." Unfortunately, the only real "news" covered during the Platform deliberations was committee debate on abortion, women in combat and a handful of social issues. Lost in the shuffle was a report on the 90% of national issues upon which nearly all Republicans agree. In any event, even with a "scripted" 4 day convention, it provides a forum for the Party to express to the nation in its own words its position on the key issues of the day. Therefore, Americans should watch both conventions and decide which message is best for America.
Judy Pennycook-CA
Being here and picking up newspapers to hear what's going out across the nation, I often find myself questioning whether I was at the same convention. Rather than hearing a scripted party message, I have heard some of the most moving stories from people like myself whom I would like to get to know a whole lot more. I have heard of people overcoming adversity, be it Colin Powell or Heather Whitestone McCallum, the hearing-impaired Miss America, I've heard stories of a young mother leading a congressional district. Her family immigrated to America for a better life for their children and clearly she exemplifies the American dream. I absolutely believe that it is important for people across the United States to hear these stories as I have been privileged to hear them firsthand and that the media needs to continue to cover the conventions. Comparatively speaking, the media is longing for a Houston where there was great dissension. It is my belief that the Republican Party has been more adept at showing the American people just what a big tent we have and the media doesn't appear to like that.Joyce Haas - PA
The convention is being covered gavel to gavel by the family network for anyone who has cable TV. What the networks do not like is that they can not be in control. Why should they be? It is my opinion that the liberal media simply does not like that it can keep the real people from being seen. This is a chance to see entire speeches, not just the 30 second soundbites that the media selects.This should be of interest to all Americans because it shows the complete sides of the people who currently control much of what happens to influence their lives in government decisions. It says the public can choose for themselves what they want to view and what interpretations they want to gain. Some media person does not make the decision for them.
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